China takes Venezuela's side after Trump's announcement of oil tanker blockade
China has expressed its support for Venezuela after US President Donald Trump announced his intention to impose a blockade of oil tankers travelling to or from its ports. This is reported by The Public with reference to Bloomberg.
Beijing stressed that unilateral sanctions and coercive pressure contradict international law and undermine the stability of global energy markets. The Chinese side said it opposes any actions that could lead to an escalation of tensions around Venezuela.
Venezuela remains an important energy supplier for China. According to various estimates, Beijing is one of the largest buyers of Venezuelan oil, much of which is exported despite US sanctions. Tanker deliveries are the key channel for oil sales from the country, whose economy is largely dependent on oil revenues.
Earlier, Donald Trump said that the US was ready to block tankers connected to the Venezuelan oil industry, explaining that it was to combat illegal supplies and violations of the sanctions regime. After that, the Venezuelan government ordered the navy to escort oil vessels, which significantly increased the risk of direct confrontation.
Against this backdrop, China's position strengthens the international dimension of the conflict. Beijing calls for a political settlement of the situation and emphasises that issues of sovereignty and access to resources cannot be resolved through pressure or blockades.
